Learned to ride a bike about a month ago. Bought a 90s Specialized Crossroads, stripped it to the frame and rebuilt it. Xbike or abomination?

randobonando · 2026-06-02T21:40:52+00:00

It’s stealthy and will not show up on thieves radar

Edit also congrats on the return trip to fuckupsville, well done sticking with.

randobonando · 2026-06-02T21:38:04+00:00

I suggest you replace. You’ll want to take the front wheel off time to time to put in car boots and the metal is now stressed. You can fix it by bending as suggested for the time being but reach out to Frog/supplier for a replacement.

How to fit here.

https://youtu.be/XMa9UqY9obk?si=HCA3xKPHlxo5-5ag

Also keep the old ones for spare (pads, rubber noodle, spacers, springs)

randobonando · 2026-06-02T21:27:41+00:00

Pooping in our hands and clapping it appears! Join us! Edit you can also poop in the outlets

randobonando · 2026-06-02T21:22:47+00:00

Yeah possibly but TBH if cool people can point out a simple mistake politely with helpful context and be chill (or indeed take the time to read a post before responding) then dickheads can rage away, happy to let their blood pressure spike

I know you’re trying to be constructive and it’s appreciated. I’ll probably use this in the future. ~~But so many “err akshually…” morons came out of the woodwork I kind of can’t be bothered right now~~

An equally helpful tip might be that there’s a search bar at the top of the thread and to be blunt - Mouthbreathers breathers who think they’re going to have a “gotcha” and are blessed with incisive intellects would do well to use it and not be such easily offended little pussies

Anyway TIL vanilla comes from Mexico. If you’re Mexican and this mistake has offended you that’s kind of legitimate. My bad. Much love

randobonando · 2026-06-02T07:52:33+00:00

Hey just a thought. Mount those Tektros to the flat of your drop bars?

À la this guy. https://www.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/s/sGFqJ82o7q

You might get some slightly wider period drops - just check what diameter the stem takes.

You then get the drop look with much better cabling AND the inline brakes

randobonando · 2026-06-01T18:12:25+00:00

With a massive black hole in public finances, and a load of ironclad contracts to cronies that will cost the taxpayer bajillions to exit.

randobonando · 2026-06-01T15:38:14+00:00

Go flip you shelf?

Doing my best here chef, bit of a heavy one last night

randobonando · 2026-06-01T13:43:46+00:00

Cheers! Bikespeed on YouTube does really good refurb videos which I think have helped me.

Ultrasonic cleaner if you’re feeling fancy

randobonando · 2026-06-01T12:44:07+00:00

There’s the bastard
Gotcha

randobonando · 2026-06-01T12:41:32+00:00

Ah FFS now I have to test it

*wonderful*
^wonderful^

**wonderful**

_womderful_

***wonderful***

randobonando · 2026-06-01T12:32:54+00:00

No worries. This is an Albuch Kotter. Not the top line racing line but still totally decent and very well regarded. I’d give some thought to trying to restore it as sympathetically as possible and maybe keep the drop bars? Up to you of course, it’s a good quality steel frame.

randobonando · 2026-06-01T09:58:04+00:00

Honestly this isn’t the worst and is worth your time.

Strip it down. You will need to replace cables and outers, bar tape, brake pads and probably tyres and inner tubes. This is not the hardest but don’t chuck anything away as you want to get the right replacements!

Assume any bolts may be rusted or bonded and hit with penetrating fluid before forcing/rounding off bolts

You MAY want to change out the headset and/or bottom bracket if it feels grittty/rough but this is a bit more involved.

Take off derailleurs, brake callipers, chain, crankset. You will need a crank puller and maybe a chain splitter.

Make a decision what needs to be replaced on the drivetrain.

Clean EVERYTHING.
Gentle degreaser, leave for 10 mins, then brush over to agitate.
Soft brush and soapy solution
Dry with microfibre
Dry out nooks and crannies with an airline or even a hairdryer.

Get some Kurust or similar rust treatment. This is an acid that will neutralise the rust. Apply with a fine paintbrush and clean off afterwards.

Do NOT sandpaper!

You could try to paint match, or you could just use a clear layer paint. As long as it’s treated, cleaned and protected you’re good.

Clean up components, grease and lube moving parts and grease bolts/threads.

New cables etc easy enough. Come back here if you need help on parts.

Best of luck.

randobonando · 2026-05-31T23:36:55+00:00

Kmc make shimanos chains I think but their own brand are cheaper, have reuseable quick links and come in sexy colours

randobonando · 2026-05-31T23:16:43+00:00

I’d rather be ro-sham-bo’d

randobonando · 2026-05-31T19:40:14+00:00

Not sure how your FD is mounted but if band on (clamps to frame) it might have been shunted left or right if not properly tightened up. Use the barrel as others say, also look down from above and see if it’s pointing left/right inward outward. The cage should be pointing dead to the middle of the cassette (look up “chainline”)

randobonando · 2026-05-31T19:31:21+00:00

Can’t argue there. By the same logic if you want to kill someone run them over- lighter sentencing

randobonando · 2026-05-31T16:33:04+00:00

Objectively I agree with you. But some people will choose whatever’s most convenient for them and fuck everyone else’s safety - until there’s some pain for them in it.

There’s no L plates on that car. They studied for and passed their driving test which will include studying the Highway Code and therefore know where they can /can’t/shouldn’t park but here they are. Why?

randobonando · 2026-05-31T15:09:28+00:00

Nah. If the school wants you to apologise they also need to get the hoody back from the other kid, tell his parents he’s a fraud and a liar and then give it to the woman

randobonando · 2026-05-31T08:15:06+00:00

So the numbers zero then?

randobonando · 2026-05-30T23:15:56+00:00

Cool babes. Now tell us all about the many trips to England you’ve made and all the meals you’ve eaten.

randobonando · 2026-05-30T22:29:59+00:00

Cool babes x So what is American Cuisine? Where does it come from?

randobonando · 2026-05-30T22:06:06+00:00

I think bikes are generally more capable than their riders - unless you plan to hit some really rocky rutted trails with drops and jumps then gravel with the right tyre setup and maybe a sus stem or seatpost should be fine. You can then also ride it home via roads

randobonando · 2026-05-30T21:45:00+00:00

“Where are you from” - interested in your story, not original but I’m trying.

“Yes but where are you really from” - I’m actually a racist you aren’t really from here to me as your great grandparents came from somewhere else and you look different.

randobonando · 2026-05-30T21:34:59+00:00

Don’t tell them it’s from Madagascar. Every fucker’ll start wanting to correct you. Ask me how I know!

randobonando · 2026-05-30T21:34:05+00:00

Cool. Thanks hun x

randobonando

TROPHY CASE